Sins and Bins

1 Timothy 5:24 (MSG) The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don't show up until much later.

If we are prone to point the finger then perhaps we are the ones who's 'sins don't show up until later.'

The meal of the critic is a plate full of iron filings. What demon did Hitler have sitting on his shoulder whispering insane thoughts about the Jewish race? What gives one human being the right to lift themselves up over another and judge them worthy of extermination?

Do you have a noisy neighbour? Do you have a smelly neighbour? Do you have a loud and unseemly neighbour? Is your attitude being severely challenged?

I have neighbours who constantly let their dogs out because they are too disorganised to walk them. These dogs run straight up to my front door and bark to incite my dogs, which they succeed to do every time.

I have other neighbours who let their dogs loose and they terrorise the neighbourhood.

I have a flat opposite me where, without fail, young women rent and love to have all-night parties, probably once a month.

What do I do with all these people? If I allow 'righteous'? indignation take over I would turn into a sourpuss.

Where would be my Christianity? Under the bed? What did Christ teach? Turn the other cheek you say? Let them walk all over me?

Isn't it funny that we can think, in the same breath, turning the other cheek means being walked over.

I think perhaps I can pray for an opportunity to speak to my neighbour, so that when I do speak grace is present. Else where would my witness be?

Jesus gave us the blueprint for dealing with offense. If a brother sins against you go to them and speak to them about it, if they do not listen take someone else, then if they don't listen to you take it to the group. (my paraphrase).

We tend to take it everywhere else but the offending party first. We often start with an offense party of our own, bad move!

Then we move on to everyone else but the offending party, then we incite gang warfare.

I find the best move is to go to the Lord and ask for an opportunity to speak to the person, to so this I have to sit on offense and not give it room.

Offense is a nasty beast don't give it the light of day or your breath. You are not a chimney stack or a breading ground for horrid little demons.

If you have let it in, repent, get a clean heart and start again. Root out offense and bitterness, don't let it take your heart. Amen!